Air Rinsing Containers Can Reduce Waste

When it comes to cleaning containers prior to beginning the filling, capping and other packaging processes, there are several ways to get the job done! On top of both semi-automatic and automatic rinsing machines, the rinse can be completed using water, air or some other cleaning medium. While any rinse media offers advantages, the ability to cut down on waste is often a determining factor for those packagers who choose air rinsing machines.

Whether using a semi-automatic rinser or an automatic rinser, the same options are generally available for removing dust and debris as far as rinse media. The difference between the two automation levels generally comes down to the amount of labor necessary, as the semi-automatic machines will require an operator to handle bottles with each rinse cycle run. While some packagers may choose to use water, cleaning solution or even product to remove debris, there is undoubtedly a trend toward the use of air.

While other reasons may exist, the main driving force seems to be the ability to cut down on clean-up and maintenance time by using the air rinser. When using water or other liquid to clean containers, the waste product must be removed and replenished in order to ensure the rinse achieves the goal of removing debris. After hundreds or thousands of cycles, the amount of liquid used tends to add up, creating excess waste and the need to dispose of the same.

While air rinsing machines will also create waste, in the form of the contaminants removed from the bottles, the same process leaves the packager with no liquid waste to remove. An automatic air rinser will invert containers in the same manner that a wet rinsing machine performs that task. Once bottles are removed from the conveyor and inverted, the air blasts the inside of the container, freeing the dust, debris and contaminants and allowing them to fall in to a removable pan that can be wiped out as needed or removed and dumped depending on the debris and the process.

In addition to reducing waste, the air will not be recycled, nor will it be as costly as, say, using product to rinse bottles that could otherwise be packaged and sold. Which can save both time and money for the packager moving forward. While there may be some situations where wet rinsing would be a better alternative or simply a preference of the packager, at Liquid Packaging Solutions the air rinsing machine has become the popular choice in almost every industry.

To learn more about rinsing machines in general, visit the Container Cleaning section of the LPS website, or simply call the LPS offices to speak with a Packaging Specialist today.